Post – Surgical Information & Instructions

After any surgical procedure is performed in your mouth, some oozing, discomfort and swelling can be expected. If the following instructions are followed very closely, you can minimize these post- operative experiences and shorten your recuperative period.

Go home, stay quiet and lie down with your head elevated. This is the time to capitalize on a spouse’s or loved one’s pampering!

Refrain from smoking for as long as possible. Not only does the smoke interfere with healing, the negative pressure it causes in the mouth can disrupt normal clotting.

Avoid alcohol for the first week. It can reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotic as well as interact with the pain medication.

Bleeding

Because slight bleeding or oozing often occurs during the first 12-24 hours after the surgery, it is normal for your saliva to be tinged red. You may want to protect your pillow with a towel while sleeping. Should bleeding be heavier, or should you notice jelly-like clots in your mouth, locate the source of bleeding. Apply firm pressure with a cold, moistened gauze or with a cold, wet tea bag. Apply firm pressure for 5-10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Rinsing and excessive spitting interferes with the clotting of blood. Do not rinse until the following morning. If you have difficulty controlling the bleeding, please call Dr. Adrio.

Swelling

You may experience some swelling or even slight bruising in the area after surgery. This can be minimized by placing an ice-pack to the side of your face, next to the operated site, for 15 to 20 minutes or until it gets cold or uncomfortable. Place some ice and cold water in a plastic bag and wrap it in a thin towel before applying it to your face. Do not place ice directly onto the face or onto the surgical site. Re-apply the ice pack as much as possible on the day of the surgery. Swelling may also be minimized by sleeping with your head elevated. If swelling is noted days after surgery, especially if accompanied by fever, please call.

Discomfort

You may experience some discomfort when the anesthetic wears off. Taking the recommended pain medication exactly as prescribed will minimize discomfort. If the discomfort becomes more severe, please call.

Nausea

Nausea is occasionally caused by swallowing blood, but may be due to the pain medication. If necessary, discontinue medication and call the office for another prescription. Restrict diet to non-fat liquids like tea or carbonated beverages (ginger ale) as needed to help control nausea.

Loss of Dressing

In some cases a periodontal dressing may have been placed to protect the operated site and cover the sutures. Ideally the dressing should stay in place until your next appointment with Dr. Adrio. Try your best to keep the dressing in place. Should pieces of the dressing come loose or the whole thing falls out, don’t panic. For most procedures, there is no harm if the dressing comes out early. Call Dr. Adrio if you have any concerns.

Loss of Sutures

It is not uncommon for sutures to loosen within the first week of healing. If a suture has come loose and is bothering you, you may simply pull it out, if it is loose enough, or cut it off.

Oral Hygiene

Keep the rest of your mouth as clean as possible using the oral hygiene techniques you have been shown. Do not brush the surgical site until given the OK by Dr. Adrio. If you have been given a prescription to control plaque (Peridex or PerioGuard), begin using it the day after the surgery. In addition, the day after, you may gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz. of warm water). Continue this 2-3 times a day until your next visit.

Diet

Eat a good meal prior to your arrival on the day of the surgery. Proper diet is essential for proper healing to occur. Now is not the time to try to lose a few pounds. You can basically eat and drink anything you want, avoiding foods that are spicy or crunchy or that require a lot of chewing. Just use common sense. Try eating on the other side as much as you can. As an additional aid to healing, a good multi-vitamin is recommended.

Prescriptions

You have been given prescriptions, usually an antibiotic, pain medication and a mouth rinse. Please have them filled and take the medications as directed on the label.

Surgical Stent

(Gingival graft patients only.) Keep the palatal stent in place for the first 2 days after surgery (eat and drink with it in). This helps control bleeding and will make you much more comfortable. After the first few days, you can wear it as much or as little as you like. When you do remove it, be sure it is brushed well before you place it back in your mouth.

At your next appointment, approximately 1 week after the surgery, the periodontal dressing (if applicable) and any remaining sutures will be removed and you will be shown how to brush the surgical site. Another follow-up appointment will be scheduled about 2 weeks after the first one.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call me.

Hang in there!

Dr. Rick Adrio

Office: 895-0474 Home: 895-7439 Cell: 939-5723